PNS | HYDERABAD
Days after Telangana recorded zero covid-19 cases, it has been found that the GHMC issued 2.42 lakh Death Certificates from April 1, 2020, to January 15, 2023.Responding to an RTI query the GHMC said, “The GHMC issued 2,42,195 death certificates from 01-04-2020 to 15-01-2023. The GHMC has no information on the cause of death.”
The RTI query was filed by city-based activist Kareem Ansari. “They also mentioned that the GHMC has no information on the cause of death. My objective in filing the RTI query was not at all served. I asked for information on the number of death certificates issued regarding Covid-19 deaths by the GHMC. If this information is not available to the government how did the government monitor things during the pandemic? I suspect that the GHMC Chief Medical Officer is hiding facts,” Ansari said.
It took almost 1.5 years to get the RTI response.Ansari filed an RTI application on June 17, 2021, before the PIO, O/o Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad requesting him to provide information on the number of death certificates issued for Covid-19 deaths by the GHMC in the GHMC area from April 1, 2020, till now.
“As there was no reply from the concerned PIO, I went for the first appeal before the First Appellate Authority on 12-08-2021. For this, I received a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Health GHMC, Hyderabad, stating that my RTI application is transferred under Section 6(3) to the O/o the Directorate of Health, Hyderabad,” Ansari said.
The RTI query kept rotating between departments. “Even after lengthy correspondence, the Joint Director (IDSP & Covid Cell), O/o the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad, failed to provide the information.This made me to go for the second appeal on March 14, 2022, before the Telangana state Information commission,” Kareem said.
The commission directed the respondents to appear in person before the commission on Nov 1, 2022. After receiving the direction from TSIC the application went back to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, GHMC.
“The commission observed that the PIO transferred the application after an abnormal delay. The commission also warned the PIO not to repeat such lapses and to strictly adhere to the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.
The commission directed the PIO of O/o Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, to provide the information to me within a week from the date of receiving the order,” Kareem said.
